Tyler Moore likely to get his chance to settle into a productive stretch with Syracuse Chiefs

Syracuse, N.Y. — As far as he knows, Syracuse Chiefs first baseman Tyler Moore expects to be in the team's lineup for a second straight game on Friday.

For him, that's an iron-man stretch.

Moore showed when he can do when anchored in the middle of the lineup on Thursday when he blasted a seventh-inning grand slam that carried the Chiefs past Indianapolis 7-3 at NBT Bank Stadium.

It was his first game back with the Chiefs since the Nationals sent him down on Wednesday and just his third with Syracuse overall this season. He played on opening day, then was recalled because of an injury to Scott Hairston.

He came back down to play in another contest on May 9, then was brought right back up when Adam LaRoche got hurt. As of Thursday night, it did not look like Washington had another immediate need for him, so Moore could have a chance to get on a roll with the Chiefs.

"It's been a roller-coaster year, for sure'' he said. "It's tough. But nothing is really easy in this game. Roll with the punches a little bit.''

Moore hit .307 in his first season with the Chiefs two years ago and then .318 with 46 RBI and 10 homers in just 45 games last season. But that hasn't yet translated to sustained success in Washington yet. After hitting .263 for the Nationals in 2012 he dropped to .222 last season and .214 in 34 games this year.

"Obviously, it's good to play. Up there, you are not getting a lot of at-bats,'' Moore said. "It was cool to get back and see the guys yesterday. I stay focused by not thinking about that kind of stuff (moving up and down).''

Moore was locked in on Indians reliever Wirfin Obispo in the seventh. With the game tied at 3, Indians reliever Daniel Schlereth (1-2) got the water boiling as soon as he came on to start that inning.

Will Rhymes led off with a single, and Emmanuel Burriss reached on a sacrifice bunt. Zach Walters moved over both runners with another bunt, and Schlereth then intentionally walked Steven Souza Jr.

Obispo took over for Schlereth, and Moore pounded a 2-2 fastball on the outside corner to right for an opposite-field round tripper.

"He's tough on righties. He was kind of throwing across his body a little bit. I got a pitch I could handle,'' Moore said.

"He's obviously a guy with an impact-type bat,'' said Syracuse manager Billy Gardner Jr. "He comes back here, he gets himself ready to play. (Moore) came through for us tonight.''

Moore's addition makes the Chiefs one of the most stacked lineups in the International League. Thursday, catcher Jhonatan Solano and center fielder Brian Goodwin each delivered solo homers for Syracuse.

"The lineup has some depth to it. You saw that tonight,'' Gardner said. "They grind at-bats out.''

The Chiefs also moved into a tie for first place in the IL North and improved their home record to 20-9. Syracuse hasn't finished a season 10 games over at home since the then-SkyChiefs went 41-31 in 2005.

Coming into the contest Syracuse had posted an ERA 0.23 lower and a batting average 22 points higher at home than on the road.

"I think you always want to create that home field advantage,'' Gardner said. "I think we've done that here.''

Before Moore's power surge, the Indians rallied for the second time of the game to tie the game at 3 in the seventh. Gregory Polanco led off with a single against reliever Zach Johnson and stole second. Robert Andino then plated him with a single.

That answered a two-out solo blast by Goodwin in the sixth.

Solano got the Chiefs off to a loud start in the second, opening the bottom of the inning with a solo shot off Indians starter Adam Wilk. One out later Brandon Laird drew a walk, and Chiefs starting pitcher Taylor Jordan bunted him to second. He came home from there when Burriss singled to left.

Indianapolis' Matt Hague cancelled out that lead in the fourth when he followed a leadoff walk to Chris McGuiness by depositing an offering from Jordan over the left-field fence.

Those were the only two runs allowed by Jordan, who gave up six hits and fanned nine in six innings. Syracuse reliever Ryan Matheus (1-1) pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win.

The teams conclude their series 7 p.m. Friday. Ryan Tatusko is scheduled to take the mound for Syracuse against Indianapolis' Jeff Locke.